Paranting Explainers | How will energy price rises affect our families?

The energy price hike is terrifying families on Universal Credit this winter

Words: Felice Southwell. Images: iStock

In September, families across the UK got the news that their energy bills were being hiked by up to £139 a year.

The enormous change to the cost of living also coincided with the removal of the temporary uplift of £20 per week for Universal Credit claimants.

This was to help them cope with the consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns.

The combined effect of these changes, as well as the end of the Government-funded furlough, meant that families across the country were left struggling to cope.

Here, Paranting takes a look at what has changed, what the changes mean for families and how to get support.

What has changed?

The temporary £20 per week Universal Credit uplift from March 2020 was part of Rishi Sunak’s, Chancellor of the Exchequer, response to COVID-19.

Many people relied on this extra £80 a month to continue their bill payments as the cost of living rose rapidly during the pandemic.

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